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June 27, 2008
Going Numb to Reminders
A smoke detector works because you drop everything when it goes off in case of emergency. Your door bell works because you answer the door when it rings knowing it means someone is there. A reminder on your calendar works because it gets you to focus on something timely--or does it?
Feel like you've gone numb to the Reminder windows that pop up on your Calendar? (Hint: answer yes if you find yourself clicking snooze or dismiss most of the time when you see that window.) Don't feel bad. Most programs are built to help you to go numb to those Reminder because they set them on everything that is timed.
I'm not saying don't use reminders--just use them sparingly so that when they go off, they actually mean something.
Outlook is famous for putting reminders on everything by default. To turn them off by default go to Tools>Options>Calendar options and uncheck the reminders box:
When you really do want to be reminded of something timely, just manually check off the Reminders box within the entry:
In Lotus Notes, the same setting is under Tools>Preferences>Calendar & To Do>Alarms:
And the place to manually set the ones you do want in Notes is in the top right-hand corner of any entry:
In Google Calendar, check under Settings>Notifications.
I've never found I've needed reminders all that much, as long as I scan my Calendar often enough throughout the day. When I start my day, I typically open--and keep open--3 things:
My Calendar
My Inbox
My Action lists
Hope this helps!
Posted by Kelly at June 27, 2008 03:08 PM
Comments
I've found that it isn't so much the reminder that's he problem; it's the default 15 min. warning.
If I get a warning 15 minutes ahead of time, I will dismiss it, because I can usually continue doing what I'm doing for another 10 minutes or so.
I've set the default for Google calendar to 5 minutes. That gives me enough time to finish what I'm doing. Anything that requires travel time of more then 10 minutes gets a separate entry in my calendar (go to ...).
Posted by: Robbert at June 27, 2008 11:26 PM
Very good post! In this day and age we do get so inundated with noise that it is easy to ignore sounds. Sometimes I don't even realize my cell phone is ringing.
I have found it helpful though to set up reminders for an hour or so before an important appointment in case I am working at my computer in my pajamas and need a reminder to get ready for the meeting across town :-)
Posted by: multitaskingmama at June 28, 2008 05:56 AM
Kelly,
Is your Inbox electronic? If so, what is it exactly?
Thanks,
Claudia
Posted by: Claudia Volkman at June 30, 2008 03:46 AM
Hi Claudia,
Which Inbox do you mean and why?
Kelly
Posted by: Kelly at June 30, 2008 07:59 AM
I don't use reminders much, either, Kelly, for just the reason you noted in your post. I stay sufficiently in touch with my calendar all day long so that I'm always anticipating my next event.
You give such good advice - you should be a Davidco coach! :)
Posted by: Dean at June 30, 2008 08:25 PM
I agree, pop up reminders on your calendar can be habituated to and they can lose their meaning. But, I agree, let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater, they are still enormously helpful. Noticing when we are habituating to it is the key. Then we can reset our intentions to pay attention to the reminders that are meaningful to us.
One place we could probably use more intentional reminders is in our personal lives and with our practices to make personal and professional change. I have found the practice of mindfulness (the practice of intentionally paying attention to the present moment, without our lenses of judgments) to be a particularly practical, accessible, and effective way to notice when I'm habituating to reminders, take stock of what is most important to me, and to intentionally reset my focus to pay attention to those that are most meaningful.
Posted by: Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. at July 11, 2008 10:53 AM
